For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

1 Thessalonians 4:3

The perfect will of God is for a minister to abstain from sexual immorality. The will of God is clear about fornication. Since that is one of the clearest directions of the Lord it is important that you make it one of your clearest and most energetic goals to practically live a sexually pure life. Stay away from anyone who would want to have an impure relationship with you.

Everyone has a different way by which he keeps himself from fornication. You must find out what is God’s will for your life’s journey of staying away from fornication.

It may be God’s will for you to never read certain books or watch certain films and that may be the way you will stay away from fornication. It may be God’s will for you to marry as a very young man in order to keep yourself from fornication. It may be God’s will for you to have sex with your spouse every day in order to keep you from fornication. It may be the will of God for you to never live in certain countries that are more immoral. It may be God’s will for you to travel everywhere with your wife in order to stay away from fornication. It may be the will of God for you not to have certain friends in order to avoid fornication. It may be God’s will for you never to work with women or have female secretaries in order to keep you from fornication.

What is the will of God for your specific circumstance and situation? When it comes to possessing your vessel in sanctification, everyone should know how it works best for him and what the will of the Lord is.

People do not pay tithes because they are suspicious and accusative.It is important to believe in the prophet of God who has been sent to you. It is not difficult for pastors to recognize the untrusting and suspiciousnature of some church members.They believe in God alright but they do not believe in the pastor. They suspect him of stealing money. They accuse him of using their money to live luxuriously.They constantly discuss the pastor behind his back. They do not see why the pastor should have certain privileges. Some people in the church have an unspoken standard of living, which they expect their pastor not to cross. Most people have a mental picture of how and where they expect their pastors to live.They reason, “After all we are sponsoring him.” They always remember the phrase, “as poor as a church mouse”. Anything related to the church must be poor or poverty-stricken; including the pastors.Such negatively-minded people will not pay tithes. It is important to become a positive person who believes in good things. Optimism usually breeds success. Positive-minded people are achievers, and are often chosen over negative people in almost every sphere of life. A positively thinking person will pay his tithes knowing that he is using his money for a good cause. “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7).

An over-confident person is someone who has too much trust in his abilities. It is dangerous to be over-confident as a Christian. Being too confident in your righteousness and in your own spirituality is a bad sign.

…Let him that THINKETH HE STANDETH take heed lest he fall.

1 Corinthians 10:12

If you regard yourself or your position in Christ as foolproof, you are in danger of backsliding - especially, if you have had promotion in church, or have been used by God in the past.

I have heard some Christians boast, “I will never fornicate, I cannot simply do it." This is over-confidence. It reminds me of a particular brother”

“in my church who would regularly come to me and say: "Pastor, your church is so good; I will never leave Lighthouse Chapel." He spoke about his commitment to me and to the church with such conviction. A few months later, he walked out of the church and never returned.

Satan Smiles at Boasting Christians

When a Christian continues to boast about his strength, Satan hears him and decides to test him. Such a person is a potential backslider.

Where you are over-confident is where you can be the weakest, because you have dropped your guard.

You can also tell that a Christian is over-confident by the way he talks about the weaknesses of others. I have heard Christians criticize others as though they could never make the same mistakes. They overestimate their own ability, and look down on others.

Do Not Laugh at Them

You need to be humble; otherwise one day you will find yourself in the same shoes, much to your own surprise. Staying on the right track is largely by the grace of God, and not by your own strength.

“When David heard that Saul was dead, he didn't ridicule him or rejoice over his death. David could have lashed out at Saul and criticized him at that time. He could have taken the opportunity to talk about how Saul had been disobedient and stubborn. He could have discussed what led to Saul's downfall. Instead he declared,

Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon...

2 Samuel 1:20

Although David did not have a problem with stubbornness and disobedience, he did not venture to denounce his predecessor because of his weaknesses. We must all learn something from this example.

COPYINGDag Heward-Mills READ:2 Timothy 1:1-14...I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.1 Timothy 1:16

Copying is the most advanced form of learning. It is the natural ability given to every child who comes into this world. Copying has a bad name because some people have copied in examinations. But this is not what I am talking about. I am talking about the ability to learn and improve by wholeheartedly and absolutely copying a successful person. Human beings who copy other humans completely have a higher quality of life and a superior civilization.For instance, European countries like France, Italy , Switzerland and Germany are almost identical in their economies, infrastructure and wealth. These countries became equally wealthy by emulating each other. In recent times, countries like Korea and China which have mindlessly and completely copied developed countries have advanced significantly to the amazement of the rest of the world. Their ability to copy completely and totally makes a big difference between them and other darker underdeveloped sections of the world.In your ministry , your ability to copy completely and totally will always set you miles apart from other ministers who are unable to completely copy what they see in other great ministers of the Gospel. You must learn from what people say as well as what they do. This is why the Bible records both the teachings and the lives of people. This is why Luke recorded both what Jesus did and what He said.

And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.Genesis 9:22

It is an important principle to honour fathers. Ham broke this principle and dishonoured his father. It is the curse that followed that governs large sections of the world’s population. Across the world, the inability of the black man to rise above the state of servanthood can only be explained by a curse. Others may differ in their view and I can handle that, but I find it difficult to explain the state of Africa and black people, in general, except by the interpreting it as the curse of Ham. This severe curse came about when a young man forgot the contribution his father had made to his existence. Ham forgot that it was his father Noah who heard from God and obeyed the call. Ham forgot that he did not know God well enough to hear the voice that commanded to build an ark.

Ham forgot that if his father had not built the ark he would have drowned along with the rest of the world. Ham forgot that God considered Noah to be a righteous man, even though he did not. Ham forgot that he was alive only because of his “drunken” father. Ham forgot that every man of God has a right to be naked in his own tent. Ham forgot that he himself was, sometimes, naked in his own tent.

He forgot too many things and he paid the price dearly for his lack of remembrance. Today , the black man can scarcely rise out of the waters of poverty and worldwide despisement.

You cannot prosper with the wrong temperament and in the wrong company.

Perhaps this is one of the most important points in this book. In a previous chapter we discussed how each temperament is suited for certain jobs. Make sure that you are doing a job suited to your particular temperament. If you are a choleric person, find a leadership job that is suitable for choleric people. If you are phlegmatic, ask to be excused from jobs that require a driving, leadership personality! It is in your interest that you work according to your particular temperament. If you do not, you will repeatedly be regarded as a failure.

You cannot prosper in the wrong company. If you do not have to sit with sinners all day long, you are truly blessed. Pray that God will give you people whose company you enjoy.

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful." (Psalms 1:1)

COMMON FEARDag Heward-Mills READ: 1 John 4:16-19For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.2 Timothy 1:7

People do not pay tithes because they are afraid.Many people do not pay tithes because they are afraid of poverty. They fear: “Will I be able to go through the month. Will I survive if I pay my tithes? This is a common fear, but you must remember that fear is an evil spirit.If you follow fear, you are following a demon. God has not given us the spirit of fear. Can you imagine where a demon will lead you? If you love God, you must cast out your fears and decide to obey Him.A quick analysis will reveal that people do things even though they have deep fears within. People get married in spite of their many fears. There are many things that could go wrong in a marriage! There could be unfaithfulness! There could be divorce! There could childlessness! There could be tragedy! There could be poverty! There could be death! In spite of these fears, people continue to marry and do what they really want to do.Why then are you unable to overcome your fears and pay your tithes? It is time to walk by faith and pay tithes. A person who does not pay tithes is living by the spirit of fear.“God did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid but a spirit of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7, New Century Version).

March 18, 2016CHANGE OF HEARTDag Heward-Mills READ: 2 Samuel 15:10-30So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's face.2 Samuel 14:28

Absalom suffered the hardship of living in exile for two years. One would have thought that he underwent a change of heart. However, the spirit of unforgiveness and rebellion was simmering within.I remember an employee whom we disciplined. He wrote an apology letter in which he said, “I was wrong and I apologize for what I did.”After writing his letter, he was suspended from his work for some months. Somehow after months of suspension, this strange son of mine rose up in rebellion against me. He attacked me and the church to which he had belonged. At one point, he sent a message to me saying, “I will drive you out of this city .” Perhaps, his intention was to spread enough bad stories about me until I was too embarrassed to hang around.Do these words not sound familiar to you? Did Absalom not attempt to drive David out of Jerusalem? Actually , Absalom succeeded in driving David out of Jerusalem for some days. The point is this: the spirit of Absalom is not corrected through punishment and even years of hard discipline. Do not be deceived into thinking that Absalom has changed just because he has been through hardships, poverty or a period of discipline.This explains why some people never apologize no matter what they go through. They may suffer incredibly but will still not humble themselves and repent genuinely .

Not a nice topic for modern day Christians to think about. Suffering is a taboo. Yet from the scriptures it is clear that it is part of our walk on earth. We are called to suffer too. An author wanted to publish a book LOSING, SUFFERING, SACRIFICING AND DYING. People around said it was a very bad bad topic or title. Jesus our LORD told us to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow him! There is no short cut! We are to share in the sufferings of Christ.

October 27, 2015THE PRICEDag Heward-MillsREAD: Matthew 16:21-28Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.Matthew 16:24Jesus said we should take up our crosses and follow Him. This speaks of sacrifice.Thousands of people followed Jesus until He told them to drink His blood and eat His body. As soon as Jesus preached about sacrifice, His church reduced in size. But that is how to do the works of Jesus. It is to believe in the cross and all that it stands for.If we were to pay the same price we pay for earthly things, perhaps the works of God would increase dramatically. You would become a preacher and a teacher for things you believe in and things you have sacrificed for. Because you have not paid the price, the Gospel is more of a powerless social obligation than a life-giving ministry.I once spoke to a doctor and asked how many years he had studied medicine. He answered, "About twenty-five years." But how many days are sacrificed to become a divine healer as Jesus was? The reason why many are not involved in the works is because we do not really believe it is worth dying for. If we were to believe to the extent that we take up our cross, we will begin to do the works of Jesus. I saw the greatest miracles ever when I agreed to sacrificially go to a dangerous place to minister.If you want to do the works of Jesus, you must believe in the reality of sacrifice. You must follow the example of Jesus and pay the high price God is asking you to pay.Start your day with a blessing!!!

September 19th, 2015Your Daily Quiet TimeDag Heward-MillsREBELSREAD: Romans 13:1-7Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God,...Romans 13:1 (New American Standard Version)There are two types of wisdom. The wisdom from above is characterized by one wonderful feature: it is easy to be entreated, (James 3:17). Pride, the spirit of Satan, will teach you to be unyielding and adamant. Humility, the spirit of Christ will teach you to flow and listen to advice.God has designed our lives such that we are to be under authority. Satan was the ultimate rebel breaking away from God's authority. He inspires millions to break out of anykind of authority. The spirit of Satan re-describes authority figures as dictators or tyrants. This is inorder to legitimize a break away from authority. Ultimately, demon activity will lead you against every kind of authority. The Scripture clearly states that authorities are set up by God. Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. "For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God" (Romans 13:1, New American Standard Version).Demonic activity is often directed against three God-given authorities. Satanic rebels are against God's authority in the church, which is the pastor. Demonic activity is also against the authority in the home, which is the husband. Finally, demonic activity is against the authority in the nation, which is the government. All these authorities were established by God. Like the serpent in the garden, Satan will always challenge the wisdom of God's Word. Do not be a rebel!

May 29, 2015BENEFITSDag Heward-MillsREAD: Ecclesiastes 10:16-17Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!Ecclesiastes 10:16Remember the testimony of the prodigal son. Many people think that it was only the younger brother who received an inheritance. Study your Bible carefully. You will see that both of them received an inheritance. Both of them were blessed equally by their father. "And HE DIVIDED UNTO THEM HIS LIVING." (Luke 15:12).This prodigal boy received an inheritance. He spent his money on harlots and riotous living. With experience, I have seen that many people do not prosper because they do not use the opportunities that God gives them wisely.Ecclesiastes 10:16 teaches that blessings abound for those that can wait to take their benefits at the right time. This is the principle of delayed rewards.If you buy that expensive car at the wrong time of your life, repairing it and buying fuel for it will be like drawing blood out of your body. It will cost you your life. I believe in the best for myself, but I wait for the right time to enjoy the blessings that are legitimately mine. Apostle Paul said that many privileges were his to enjoy. Yet he explained, "I have used none of these things" (1 Corinthians 9:4,15).Although Paul was blessed to have the support of the church, he deliberately avoided using many of these privileges.A privilege will turn into a snare if you jump into it too quickly.

Whenever I go to Geneva, I cross over into Ferney- Voltaire, a little French village named after a noted infidel Voltaire (1694-1778). One night I drove with the pastor of my church in Geneva to look at a statue of this man.I saw all of the tributes that were written to his name and all of the good works that he was said to have done for the community. But this man also lived and fought against Christianity.

The Man Who Cursed ChristNotice what this noted French infidel said of Christ our Saviour: "Curse the wretch!" How on earth can you gather so much confidence to curse Christ and call Him a wretch?He once boasted, "In twenty years, christianity will be no more. My single hand shall destroy the edifice it took twelve apostles to rear."These are the people who have laid the foundations for the atheism that is so prevalent in Europe today.Shortly after his death, the very house in which he printed his foul literature became the depot of the Geneva Bible Society. The nurse who attended Voltaire said: "For all the wealth in Europe I would not see another infidel die."

He Was Helpless and Desperate on His DeathbedThe physician, Trochim, who was with Voltaire at his death said that he cried out most desperately: "I am abandoned by God and man! I will give you half of what I am worth if you will give me six month's life. Then I shall go to hell, and you will go with me. O Christ! O Jesus Christ!"Notice the desperation and helplessness of this blasphemer as he descended into the abyss. He himself admitted that he was on his way to hell.My dear Christian friends, let's make no mistakes about the reality of Heaven and Hell.